Ministry and Mission Grants and Scholarships 2015
Presbytery of Philadelphia
Covenant Fund: http://presbyphl.org/crc/covenant-fund/
The Covenant Fund Grant Program, which launches annually each May, uses dollars from restricted funds to spark
imaginative and collaborative ministries that benefit the communities surrounding our churches. Recipients of
these grants have birthed new worshipping communities, launched social enterprises, hosted leadership
development opportunities, constructed art studios for children, sustained hunger programs, and developed ESL
ministries in diverse neighborhoods.
Maximum Grant Amount: $25,000
Application Launch: May 1, 2015
Application Deadline: July 1, 2015
Recipient Announcement: August 3, 2015
Great Ends Grants: http://presbyphl.org/great-ends-grants/
The Great Ends Grants exist to empower church mission and ministry as they work towards the fulfillment of the
great ends of the church. Great Ends Grants are available on a rolling basis and are to be submitted one month
prior to initiative seeking funding and by the last Tuesday of each month to ensure consideration at the next
meeting of the Commission on Resources and Communications (second Tuesday of each month).
Diakonos Fund
Greek for “one who serves,” Diakonos grants may be used to support initiatives that provide for the shelter, nurture, and
spiritual fellowship of the children of God. These dollars also support hunger relief initiatives, care closets, and other food
programs. Grant Range: $400-$2,800
The Church Leadership Development Fund
Church Leadership grants provide for the maintenance of divine worship by offering resources and gatherings that equip
church leaders, e.g. ruling elders, teaching elders, deacons, program staff, volunteers, etc. Grant Range: $300-$2,500
Youth Leadership Fund
These funds support collaborative youth ministry activities, events, retreats, and various initiatives throughout the Presbytery.
Max. Amount: $1000
Peacemaking Fund
The Peacemaking Fund resources locally-based initiatives, advocacy efforts, and projects that seek to alleviate violence in our
communities. Max. Amount: $1,000
Self-Development of People:
http://presbyphl.org/self-development-people/s-d-o-p-resources-information/
Self-Development of People provides community development grants aimed at empowering economically poor,
oppressed, and disadvantaged people. The grants, which are given to grassroots groups, are generally in the $5,000
to $10,000 range. SDOP’s goal is to “enable Presbyterians to be partners in development so that others may grow
with dignity.” The grants distributed by Self-Development of People are funded through special offerings collected
via the One Great Hour of Sharing.
Synod of the Trinity
New Initiative Grants: intended to provide a means to provide funding and encouragement to presbyteries to
stimulate innovation and creativity in mission and ministry through funds specifically designated for new initiatives.
Projects to be considered should represent a new or innovative way of achieving stated result; address an issue in
the area of Leader Development, Missional Church Development, Campus Ministry or Communication; be easily
adapted and incorporated in other presbyteries; grow out of partnership between two or more presbyteries; seek to
achieve specific and measurable results. No Deadline Expressed.
http://www.syntrinity.org/ministry-mission/new-initiative-grants-for-synod-presbyteries/
General Assembly & Presbyterian Mission Agency
Presbyterian Women: http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/pw/giving/
Leadership Development Fund: up to $500 for women to attend trainings; rolling applications
Birthday Offering Grants: range from $200,000-$500,000. These dollars have funded various initiatives by
PC(USA) governing bodies, health agencies, overseas churches, ecumenical councils, community groups,
educational institutions, church ministries, etc. These projects promote racial and ethnic diversity and collaborate
with women, children, youth, young adults, and persons with disabilities to enhance their quality of life.
Deadline: May 15, 2015
Thank Offering: range from $5,000-$50,000 and fund projects such as agricultural development, child care,
community organization, criminal justice, drug counseling, economic justice, elderly care, employment training,
homelessness, literacy programs, domestic violence awareness, etc. Deadline: September 15, 2015.
Presbyterian Hunger: http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/hunger/grants/
International Projects outside the United States: Programs must take place and benefit those who live outside
the United States. Initiatives range from public policy advocacy, direct food relief, education and interpretation,
development assistance, etc. Grants requests average around $7000 and demonstrate additional funding sources.
Letter of Inquiry due by April 30 and applications due by June 30.
Congregational Hunger Project (within U.S.): For programs that function within the United States, i.e.
public policy advocacy, direct food relief, education and interpretation, development assistance, etc. Grants
requests average around $500- $20,000 and demonstrate additional funding sources. Letter of Inquiry due by
April 30 and applications due by June 30.
Small Grants Program: Efforts enhance food security, increase healthy eating, create jobs and local economic
growth, support local family farmers, use land ecologically, raise awareness about local and global hunger and
poverty, etc. Rolling Grants range from $100-$1,000.
Congregation-Based Community Organizing Grants and Scholarships: These grants fund new broad-based
community organizations that are less than three years old. These grants are committed for one year at a time and
an organization is eligible for a maximum of three years funding. They do not have to be consecutive grants. The
grants sum range generally from $5,000 to $6,000 depending on the demonstrated need. Only online applications
will be considered. Deadline: June 30, 2015
Scholarships: http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/financialaid/scholarships-grants-and-loans/
Transformational Leadership Debt Assistance: provides assistance to pastors of smaller or emerging new
churches; $3000-5000 (Rolling):
Leadership Training: up to $200 for con ed programs for pastors and church leaders in small churches
Mission and New Worshiping Communities Grants
http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/missionprogramgrants/
New Worshiping Communities Seed Grant: These grants support operating/program purposes such as
salary and benefits, insurance, rent, educational materials, etc. These grants are limited to new worshiping
communities that are related to the Presbyterian Church (USA), located within the United States and Puerto
Rico and were ordinarily established no earlier than July 2010.
New Worshiping Communities Investment Grant: Twelve months after receipt of a Seed Grant, a onetime grant of up to $25,000 is possible. Approval of Investment Grants conditioned upon real progress
made toward meeting the definition of a new worshiping community. Investment Grants ordinarily require
a dollar-for-dollar match provided by the combined contributions of the partner congregation and
presbytery and/or synod. In-kind contributions for the match are acceptable. Waivers of the match will be
considered on a case-by-case basis. (The Investment Grant is a replacement for the First-Level New Church Grant.)
New Worshiping Communities Growth Grant: The Growth Grant supports and encourages new
worshiping communities whose process of faithful discernment has led them to establish a new ministry,
responsive to the needs of a new group of people, with the ultimate goal of growing a viable and sustainable
new congregation. At least eighteen months after receipt of an Investment Grant, a one-time Growth
Grant of up to $25,000 is possible and will provide for the next eighteen months. Approval of a Growth
grant is conditioned upon significant progress being made toward meeting the goals and objectives as
outlined in the Investment Grant proposal. A dollar-for-dollar match provided through presbytery and/or
synod is ordinarily required. In-kind contributions are acceptable and waivers of the match will be
considered on a case-by-case basis. (The Growth Grant is a replacement for the Second-Level New Church Grant.)
New Worshiping Communities Health Insurance Grant: This grant program provides supplemental
funding to the partner congregation and/or presbytery in support of new church organizing pastors or new
worshiping community leaders who would not otherwise be able to afford health insurance. Presbyteries
may apply on behalf of new congregations and new worshiping communities for an annual grant of up to
$1,500. This grant is twice renewable, for a total of three years, upon approval of an application each year.
Note: No one project may receive more than $57,500 in total grant assistance. The Health Insurance
Grant does not figure into this amount since it is designed to assist individual leaders.
MISSION PROGRAM GRANTS PROPOSAL SUBMISSION & REVIEW DATES
2015 Cut-off Date for
Receipt of Proposals
2015 Review Date
(Received on Time)
2015 Review Date
(Received Late)
February 11
March 11
April 15
July 15
September 16
October 14
March 9-10*
April 15
May 13
August 10*
October 14
November 11
April 15
May 13
August 10
October 14
November 11
March 7, 2016
The Sam & Helen R. Walton Award: In late December 1991, Sam & Helen R. Walton made a generous
gift to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), through the Presbyterian Foundation, of six million dollars. This
gift included an endowment in the amount of three million dollars, the earned interest to be used by new
churches that have placed a particular emphasis on site acquisition. An annual opportunity is offered to
sessions, presbyteries and synods to nominate excellent new churches that are working in creative ways to
bring the gospel to their local communities. Each selected awardee will receive a one-time financial award of
up to $50,000, which is made over and above funding received from other GA sources. The number of
projects approved and the amount of the financial award is based in part on funds available.
Nominations are to be submitted by January 31 of each year.